Eating Out in Nozawa Onsen
Apart from all the great snow activities and the Onsens, Nozawa Onsen offers some amazing food choices at very reasonable prices. Many of the restaurants are small family run businesses using local ingredients from the fertile mountains. Here is just a few.
Kawahiro
7819 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture 389-2502, Japan
Phone:+81 269-85-245
Open for lunch and dinner Kawahiro is one of the few places that can deal with a large group. The food is Japanese style, amazing, well priced and plentiful. The staff are very helpful also. It's located at the base of the Nagasaka Gondala near Address Nagasaka and The Craft Room. You will need to book for dinner.
Kawahiro
7821-3 Toyosato, Nozawa Onsen-mura, Shimo-takai-gun, Nagano-ken, 3892502
Located underneath Address Nagasaka, diagonally opposite Nagasaka Gondola station- these guys serve great coffee, beer and snacks. call in for breakfast or a beer after a day on the slopes. Open till 6pm each day and 10pm on Saturday.
IThe Craft Room, Address Nagasaka on top.
The Sun
The Sun is a great lunch spot for a large group at the base of the Hikage Gondola. Next doot to St Anton's ski hire. It's Japanese food but even though there is lots of variety it's difficult to go past the katsu curry! Head upstairs for a nice warm cosy spot, take off your boots and put on some slippers, enjoy the food and a beer.
Katsu curry The Sun
St Antons
St Antons is well known in the village. Their cafe in the centre of town does good coffee, snacks and preserves. This year at their ski hire place at Hikage they've installed a coffee machine in the entrance with a delightful young barista doing great coffee, perfect just before you hit the slopes. If you hire from St Antons you can store your ski gear with them each night, its very convenient, no lugging of gear, and you can grab a coffee each morning when you grab your stuff.
St Antons
Daimon Soba
9509 Toyosato Nozawaonsen-Mura, Shimotakai-gun,Nozawaonsen-mura 389-2502
Daimon Soba is run by a third generation Nozawa Onsen family, who also have produced some champion ski jumpers. Great value and delicous. Its hard to get into you might have to try a few times, worth the effort. Its just off the main street opposite the wine store.
Waka Giri
9556 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture 389-2502, Japan
Waka Giri is super easy to find and very popular. In the heart of the village just down for St Anton's, its A frame makes it instantly recognisable. Again great Japanese food well priced. Bookings for larger groups needed.
9347 Toyosato, Shimotakai-gun, Nozawaonsen-mura389-2502, Nagano Prefecture
A fantastic little bar right in the centre of town brewing their own beer. Just opposite the main onsen.
Sakai
7923-2 Toyosato Oyu, Shimotakai-gun, Nozawaonsen-mura, Nagano Prefecture
Sakai is another great family run restaurant with good vegetarian options available. Bookings are a good idea. There is also a separate room that can seat a large group.
Akibitei
Okonimayaki (Japanese pancakes) are inexpensive, healthy and a great way fill up. Akibitei do this wonderful comfort food particularly well. It's on the downside of the village towards Kamamatoya and the physiotherapy practice. It's tiny and you can't book but its well worth trying to get into.
Is a great new bar and cafe on the 'downside' of town and set back off the road a little. It's spacious and serves really good coffee and tea. The delicous mulled wine is a must try!
